Assistant Managing Director

Defender Association of Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA

2d

About The Position

The Assistant Managing Director of the Child Advocacy Unit (CAU) partners with the Managing Director to lead a large multidisciplinary department providing high-quality, trauma-informed, client-centered legal representation to children and young people in the child welfare and dependency systems. The team’s attorneys and social workers promote and protect the legal and best interests of children from birth to age twenty-one. The role directs daily legal operations, supports staff development and legal practice standards, contributes to casework, and advances equitable multidisciplinary advocacy. The Assistant Managing Director represents the unit to external stakeholders and serves as acting Managing Director when needed.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the Pennsylvania Bar, or eligibility for admission.
• At least 5 years of dependency or related child-welfare litigation experience.
• Excellent research, writing, negotiation, and courtroom advocacy skills.
• Strong knowledge of dependency law, child welfare law, and relevant state and federal legal frameworks.
• Demonstrated commitment to public defense, children’s rights, family integrity, and racial justice.
• Experience applying anti-racist and trauma-informed approaches to representation and leadership.
• Ability to lead effectively in a complex, high-volume public defense environment.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive representation.
• Sound judgment, attention to detail, effective communication, and reliable follow-through; ability to build trust, manage competing priorities, and lead multidisciplinary work.

Nice To Haves

• At least 3 years of attorney supervisory or management experience.
• Philadelphia dependency practice.
• Multidisciplinary leadership experience.
• Experience with appellate, impact, policy, or systemic advocacy.
• Experience developing training programs or professional development initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Direct daily legal operations, including case assignments, workflow distribution, and court coverage.
• Advance strategic unit priorities using data and client feedback to inform resource allocation and reporting.
• Represent the unit to external stakeholders and serve as acting Managing Director when necessary.
• Mentor a diverse team and foster a collaborative, accountable, and supportive workplace culture.
• Manage, evaluate, and coach Supervising Attorneys through regular case consultations and courtroom observations.
• Partner with recruitment and training directors to hire, onboard, and develop legal staff.
• Enforce standards for legal analysis, written advocacy, database management, and ethical representation.
• Advise on complex case strategy and collaborate with appellate counsel on legal developments.
• Maintain a limited caseload, co-counsel cases, and provide emergency court coverage.
• Champion trauma-informed representation that empowers youth voices and challenges systemic biases, including racism and poverty.
• Partner with Social Service Supervisors, peer advocates, and lived experts to provide cohesive, multidisciplinary client support.

Benefits

• Affordable medical care options.
• Employer-paid vision, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance.
• 25 days of paid time off annually, in addition to federal holidays.
• Separate sick leave policy and organizational programming supporting physical and mental health.
• 10 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Retirement savings plan with employer match.
• Free SEPTA All Access Key card.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)-eligible employer.
• Meaningful, mission-driven work in a supportive, learning-focused, and collaborative environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree